Refrigerator



Feb. 28, 1939. A. R. 4coNsTANTn-QE REFRIGERATOR Filed Apil 25, 1955' 4sheets-sheet 1 (r l l, 1

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Feb. 28, 1939. A. R. coNsTANTlNE REFRIGERATOR Filed April 25, 1955 4Sheets-Sheet 2 A. R. CONSTANTINE REFRIGERATOR 4 Sheets-Sheeyt 3 FiledApril 25, 1935 II II I. ,I md l n m wvwvv w Qwk un mm E E D IQIw M I I II III ,III IIII I I Wh.. u-1|l|Hn\\\\\\\\\ I II .mw I @IW w Hw f 4 f/r/HFeb. 28, 1939. A. R. coNsTANTlNE REFRIGERATOR Filed April 25, 1955 4Sheets-Sheet 4 Panarea renza, 193e UNITED STATES 2,149,114lmirmcianuro1i.

Arthur R.. Constantine, River Forest, lll., assignor, by menneassignments, to Reconstruction Finance Corporation, Chicago, Ill., acorporation Application April 25, 1935, Serial No. 18,097

1/0 Claims. (Cl. 6289) My invention relates to ice chests, electricrefrigerators-or other cooling cabinets.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a refrigerator or thelike of the type having a hinged top, with a basket or containerassociated with the top in such a way that when the top is swungupwardly to open position the wire basket or container, which normallyis positioned within the refrigerator and in the cooling zone, isautomatically swung upwardly not only to permit more facile access tothe contents, but also to permit easier access to the interior of thebox or refrigerator.

Additional objects of my invention are to provide a mounting for theevaporator, such mounting to be detachably installed to the side wallsof a refrigerator of the open top type.

These and other objects of my invention will be apparent from a persualof the followingspecification when taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. l is a perspective view of a refrigerator equipped with one form ofmy basket or container;

Fig. 2 is a top view of the cover in closed position;

Fig. 3 is a detail section on line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a vertical section-of the cabinet taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 5 is a vertical section of cabinet taken on lines-5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view of the upper portion of the cabinet showingthe basket portion and a dotted line position showing the lid in raisedposition:

Fig. 'l is a sectional View taken on line 'l-l of Fis. 6;

Fig. is a plan view of the evaporator ln the right-hand side of thecabinet, and

Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken on line 9-8 of Mg. t, showing theevaporator mounting.

I Referring now to the drawings in detail, the type of ice box orrefrigerator to which my invention pertains is a type wherein the box isprovided with a swingable cover or lid hinged so that the top of the boxforming the cover swings upwardly to a substantially vertical positionand thereby exposing the interior of the box. In this type of box theevaporator is generally formed as a substantially L-shaped unit, and isdisposed at one side adjacent one of the vertical side walls of the box,the horizontal leg of the lL-shapcd evaporator being disposed to receiveice trays thereon for a quick-freeze operation. The remainder of the boxis devoted to the storage of various commodities, including a basket orcontainer generally of perforate construction, `for receivingvegetables, fruits and the like. Heretofore it has been customary tomount these containers in a stationary manner with the upper in Fig. l.

edges of the container substantially flush with the the top or coverwhen the latter is in closed position. Such an arrangement of basket orcon-.

tainer mechanism is objectionable because, to have access to the storagecompartment of the box immediately beneath the basket, it is necessarytolift the basket or otherwiseremove it.

In my present invention I mount the basket in such a manner that whenthe cover or lid is swung to open position the basket is automaticallyshift-- ed upwardly not only to give easy access to the storage spacewithin the box beneath it, but also to bring the basket and thecommodity carried therein upwardly, where it is readily accessible. Ingeneral, the box comprises a cabinet 2 of any desired constructionherein preferably shown as of rectangular construction, having front,back and side walls. The walls are preferably formed of twospaced-apartsheet metal members, an outer member I, and an inner sheetmetal member5, between which are disposed slabs of insulating material I. The topportion of the wall is formed as a separate frame, preferably of woodor, if desired, other insulating material adapted to receive screws forpurposes hereinafter lset forth. The sheet metal inner and outer members3 and 5 are adapted to be secured to the frame member 'l in the mannerset forth in Figs. 3 and 6, as by means of screws. By forming the framemember l of a separate wooden strip I am enabled to fasten thereto thebrackets and also the hinge members hereinafter referred to. Inaddition, there is a bottom wall 6. The top 8 is 'suitably hinged as atill, to the rearmost wall I2,

and is adapted to swing to open position, as shown The top is providedwith the usual gaskets I4 and I8 to make a sealed joint between the topand the bottom body of the box. A lifting handle I8 is applied to thefront of the cover. The space within the cabinet 2 between the bottom 8and partition or shelf 20 is provided to house the condenser,\compressorand piping for the mechanical refrigerating apparatus. The piping 22 forthis purpose passes upwardly through a suitably located opening in thebottom 6, where it connects with the evaporator 24, to form a. closedcircuit, as is well known in the art. The evaporator 24 is formed ofsheet metal preferably of two halves suitably welded together andproviding suitable headers and interconnected evaporant spaces. In thepresent instance, the header is formed in va. substantially L-shape, thehorizontal leg of the evaporator providing a -shelf upon which ice trays26 are adapted to be placed in super-imposed position, as shown in thedotted lines in Fig. 9. The evaporator is rigidly mounted to the sidewall 4 of the box by means of spacing sleeves 28 of non-conductivematerial. One end of the sleeves is fastened to a screw 30 which passesthrough the sheet metal interliner 32 oi' the side wall. The oppositeend of the spacing sleeve threadedly connects with a screw or otherthreaded fastener 34, the head of which rigidly connects with anopeningin' the sheet metal evaporator. The upper end of the sheet metalevaporator is of substantial hook shape and is adapted to have passedtherethrough at spaced apart portions, an angle support 38, one end ofwhich is fastened by means of screws 38 to the side wall 4 of therefrigerator. The opposite end of the angle supports are provided with abolt 40, which passes through the free hooked end of the upper portionof the evaporator. A felt washer 42 is interposed between the free innerend of the angle support and the free hooked end of the evaporator toprevent the transmission of heat through the support. In addition afiller block 44 is disposed under the free hooked end of the evaporatorsleeve to lend rigidity to the mounting. Any desired number of anglesupports and spacing sleeves may be provided, but I prefer to use two ofeach, whereby to provide a detachable yet rugged mounting for theevaporator whereby it is substantially and rigidly hung from the sidewall of the cabinet. By spacing the bottom leg of the evaporatorslightly above the bottom wall 8 of the cabinet, room is provided for awater pan 46 adapted to catch the drippings from the evaporator.

Means is provided for supporting a basket or other container within thecooling chamber of the refrigerator when the top is closed, and in amanner such that when the top is opened the basket or container isautomatically shifted to a position affording easy and unobstructedaccess to that part of the cooling chamber below the normal position ofthe basket when the top is closed, and in such a manner that the basketis maintained horizontal.

In the present embodiment, I provide means associated with the hingedtop for facilely mounting a basket so that it shifts from a positionshown in full lines in Figs. 4 and 6 to the position approximately shownin full lines in Fig. 1 and dotted lines in Fig. 6. It will be notedthat with lid 8 closed, the basket is positioned immediately under theclosed lid and to one side of the evaporator, and at the top of thecooling chamber. It will likewise be noted that in the open position ofthe lid, the basket is raised substantially outside and above thecooling chamber, that'is, to a position wherein the bottom of the basketis in the plane of the top or lid when the latter is in closed positionand in which raised position, by reference to Fig.' 1, a relativelylarge space is provided between the front edge of the basket and thefront edge of the box, which permits easy access to the entire contentsof the cooling chamber beneath the basket and at the same time permitseasy access to the basket by moving the same upwardly above the level ofthe top wall of the refrigerator proper.

In one form of carrying out this invention, I provide a basket or othercontainer 48 which may be of any desirable form, but preferably isformed of cross wires to provide perforations or openings so that acirculation of air is afforded for the contents of the basket.

As before stated, the walls of the refrigerator are provided with anupper square frame 1, preferably of wood, the outer sheet metal facingof the box being secured to this top frame member 1. 'Ihe inside sheetmetal lining is provided with an angle bend which fits in between theinsulation of the box and the frame 1, being secured thereto by means ofa screw B2. 'Ihe frame member 1 is provided with a bracket 54 securedthereto by means of a screw |58 and this bracket has pivoted by a pin 58a link 00, which link is provided with a curved,`slotted track l2. Theend of the link is provided with a nose 04 of the general shape shown inFig. 6 of the drawings. The end of slot 82 is provided with a stopmember I8 for the purpose of lockingI the refrigerator door in an openposition', as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 6.

Fast to the under side of the top is a bracket 68 secured by screws orotherwise. This bracket has a downwardly depending flange 1D in which isprovideda pivotin the form of a headed pin 12. This pin 12 rides in theslot 62 of the arm 60. Also pivoted on the pin 12 is the upper framework14 of the basket. When the door or top 8, which pivots on the hinge I0,is raised the arm 80 is likewise raised due to the ptn 12 riding in theslot 82 and, therefore, the pin 12 will ride down the slot 82 until itreaches the offset 88. This pulls the rearward end of the basketupwardly into the dotted line position.

Also pivoted on the frame 14, as at 10, is a link 1B having its oppositeend pivoted as at 80, which is formed asa pin secured to the side wallof the frame member 1 as by means of an ear 82, whereby when the lid 80is raised the link 18 and its pivoted side to the bracket will likewiseshift the pivoted end of the basket, as shown in dotted line in Fig. 6.This linkage arrangement maintains the basket in a horizontal positionas it is automatically raised by the openingof the door or lid 8. Thereis only one of the link.18 but there is a pair of the links 60, one ateach side of the basket, whereby efficiently to guide the basket in itsautomatically raising and lowering position while maintaining it alwaysin a horizontal level;

A stop pin 84 is so positioned in the frame 1 to engage the forward endof the basket frame it and limit the downward movement of the basketwhen the lid is closed.

In certain embodiments of the invention I contemplate the provision of arefrigerator wherein a closure member, be it the top of the lid or be ita door adapted to swing on pivots, is provided with mechanism whereby abasket or container is disposed within the cooling chamber of therefrigerator and operatively connected with the mechanism of the doorwhereby when the door is opened the basket, which is normally positionedwithin the cooling chamber of the refrigerator, is automatically shiftedeither outside of or substantially outside or partially outside of thecooling chamber for the purpose of easy access and/or for giving moresubstantial access to the cooling chamber.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a refrigerator, means providing a cabinet having a cooling space,a lid normally to close said cooling space and forming a door for thccabinet, a basket or other container, means ior shiftably mounting saidbasket with respect to the cooling space and the door including a devicefor causing the basket to be positioned within the cooling space whenthe lid is closed and for causing the basket to be shifted to a raisedpositio to afford access to the cooling space when the lid is open,means for refrigerating said cooling space comprising an evaporatormounted on said refrigerator within said cooling chamber. saidevaporator being formed and arranged and located in position to avoidinterference with said basket during the shifting movement thereof. f

2. In a refrigerator, means providing a cabinet havinng a cooling space,means comprising a door for closing said cooling space, an open topcontainer, a mounting for shiftably supporting said container withrespect to the cooling space and said door comprising an arm pivoted atone end on the walls of said cabinet and pivotally connected at theother end to said container, another arnr pivoted on thel walls of saidcabinet and having a sliding connection With said container, saidcontainer being tiltingly secured on said door whereby to causethecontainer to be positioned within the cooling space when the lid isclosed and to cause the container tol be shifted to projected positionoutwardly of said cooling space to afford access to the cooling spacewhen the lid is open, and means for refrigerating said cooling spacecomprising an evaporator mounted on said refrigerator Within saidcooling chamber, said evaporator being formed and arranged and locatedin position to avoid interference with said container during theshifting movement thereof.

3. A refrigerator comprising a cabinet forming a cooling chamber, a lidor top for said cabinet, means to hinge the lid to the cabinet to permitthe lid to be swung to a closed position or raised to an open position,a basket, means for normally mounting the basket within the coolingchamber immediately below the lid and in spaced relation above thebottom of the cooling chamber, said means including devices for causingan upward movement of the basket when the lid is opened, means forrefrigerating said coolingspace comprising an evaporator mounted on saidrefrigerator within said cooling chamber, said evaporator being formedand arranged and located in posi-- tion to avoid interference with saidbasket during the shifting movement thereof.

4. In a device of the class described the combination of a cabinet andmeans forming a cooling chamber, a top for the cabinet, a hinge for thetop to permit the same to be swung from a normal horizontal closedposition to an open position, a bracket mounted on the inner wall ofsaid cabinet, a basket pivotally mounted with respect to said bracket tobe normally positioned immediately beneath the top when the latter is inclosed position, and connections from said basket to said top forcausing the basket to be substantially projected outside of the coolingchamber when the top is in open position.

5. In a refrigerator, means forming a closed cabinet the walls of whichprovide a chamber adapted to be cooled, a lid for said cabinet adaptedto be closed to normal horizontal position and adapted to be raised toopen position, a basket, means for mounting said basket within thecooling chamber, said means including connections to said cabinet and tosaid lid'for causing the basket to be raised in a horizontal position asthe lid is opened, means for refrigerating said cooling space comprisingan evaporator mounted on said refrigerator within said cooling chamber,said evaporator being formed and arranged and located in position toavoid interference with said basket during the shifting movementthereof.

6. A refrigerator comprising walls forming a cooling chamber, a tophinged to said walls to close the chamber, said top being swung upwardlyto open position, a bracket pivotally mounted on said walls andproviding a slotted track, a basket having a portion mounted to move in,said track and having a portion connected to the'top, and means forminga connection between another portion of said basket and a wall of saidcabinet whereby to cause the basket to be raised in a level horizontalposition as the top is opened.

7. In a refrigerator, means forming a cabinet of the open top type, thewalls of said cabinet forming a cooling chamber, a mechanicalrefrigerating means for said cabinet includingan evaporator positionedin said cooling chamber, a basket, means for mounting said basket withrespect to the walls of said cooling chamber and with respect to saidtop whereby when said top is closed said basket is positioned in theupper portion of said cooling chamber immediately beneath said top, saidbasket mounting means including shiftable connections for causing saidbasket to be raised as the top is opened.

8. In a refrigerator, the combination of an outer sheet metal wall, aninner lining of sheet metal, insulating members between said wallsforming 'the side walls and front and back walls oi' the refrigerator,means forming a bottom wall for the refrigerator including insulationmaterial, a top forming a shiftable closure for said refrigerator,insulating means for said top, said refrigerator walls including aseparate frame member rigidly secured to said Walls, said top beinghinged to said frame member, a basket and connections .for mounting saidbasket in said cooling chamber,

Acertain of said connections for said basket being fastened to saidframe member.

9. In a refrigerator including means forming a cabinet, a door hinged tothe cabinet and adapted to swing from a closed position to an openpodtion, a container, means for shiftably mounting the container withrespect to the door and to the wall of the cabinet, including meanscausing the container to lie within the cooling chamber when the door isclosed and to be shifted by the opening of the door to a differentposition with respect to the position it. occupies when the door isclosed, means for refrigerating said cooling space comprising anevaporator mounted on said refrigerator within said cooling chamber,said evaporator being formed and arranged and located in position toavoid interference with said basket during l the shifting movementthereof.

10. In a refrigerator, a cabinet comprising side walls and an open top,a cover for said open'top and hinged to the upper edge of one of saidside walls, partition means in said cabinet dening a cooling chamberwithin the upper portions of said side walls, to which cooling chamberaccess may be hadthrough said open top when said cover is raised, amechanism compartment 4within the lower portions of said side walls,said cover, partiket on a. wall of the cabinet and on the cover,

whereby the basket may normally lie within the cooling chamber when thecover is in closed position and may be raised to an elevated positionupwardly of the top of said cabinet when said cover is open.

ARTHUR R. CONSTANTINE.

